Morocco captain Achraf Hakimi is set to stand trial in France over a rape allegation dating back to 2023, French prosecutors have confirmed.
The Paris Saint-Germain defender has been accused by a woman who says he raped her at his home in Paris when she was 24. Hakimi, 27, has consistently denied the allegation.
The public prosecutor's office in Nanterre, west of Paris, opened a preliminary investigation in March 2023. An investigating judge ordered the case to proceed to trial in February 2026, and French media have reported that Hakimi recently failed in an appeal to have the case dismissed.
No trial date has yet been set.
Hakimi is currently with Morocco at the World Cup and is expected to captain his country in their second group-stage match against Scotland on Friday at 23:00 BST.
In a social media post on Friday, Hakimi said he had remained silent for years while trusting the legal process.
"The justice system looked me in the eye and said, 'If you weren't famous, there would never have been a case'," Hakimi wrote.
"Today, a story that isn't mine is being told at the expense of my family, my life, and above all, the truth. I sometimes feel like I've become an easy target.
"I've been waiting for this trial since day one. And now I'm eagerly awaiting it. Finally, I'll be able to speak."
Rachel-Flore Pardo, the lawyer representing the plaintiff, said the decision to proceed to trial had brought her client "relief and hope" after more than three years of legal proceedings.
She said her client felt she had been "defamed and dragged through the mud" by Hakimi's defence and welcomed the opportunity for the case to be heard in court.
Pardo added that the trial could help other women and challenge what she described as denial and impunity around sexual violence, including within men's football.
Morocco are currently based in the United States, where all three of their group-stage matches are scheduled to be played.
However, if Morocco qualify for the knockout rounds, Hakimi could face potential travel complications should the team be drawn to play in Canada or Mexico.
Canada's government website states that entry can be denied to people who have "committed or been convicted of a crime".
Last week, Ghana midfielder Thomas Partey missed his country's World Cup opener against Panama after being denied entry to Canada.
Partey, 32, has pleaded not guilty to seven counts of rape and one count of sexual assault linked to allegations made by four women between 2020 and 2022. He is due to stand trial next year.
The World Cup is being hosted across the United States, Canada and Mexico until the quarter-final stage, after which matches will be played exclusively in the US.
Hakimi has earned 97 caps for Morocco since making his international debut in 2016 at the age of 17.
He was a key part of the Morocco team that made history at the 2022 World Cup by becoming the first African nation to reach the semi-finals.
At club level, Hakimi joined Paris Saint-Germain from Inter Milan in 2021 and has won 13 trophies with the French champions, including back-to-back Champions League titles across the past two seasons.
